Celebrating homegrown innovation at the Canadian Video Game Awards

Many Canadians might not realize it, but some of the past year’s big-budget, critically-acclaimed video games were actually developed right here in Canada.

The 3rd annual Canadian Video Game Awards takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia and honours the best and brightest in Canadian video gaming. The ceremony awards Canadian-developed video games in various unique categories including best social/casual game, new character, original music and the biggest award of the year, game of the year. The show is produced by Reboot Communications and Greedy Productions (Electric Playground) and is partnered with Fan Expo Vancouver.

Here are a few of the most notable Canadian developed titles nominated for awards at this year’s show.

Battlefield 3

DICE’s epic modern shooter is nominated for an innovation award this year for its cutting-edge FaceForward facial capturing technology, developed in partnership with EA Capture. This new system uses 4D motion scanning to deliver realistic facial animations in video games. Anyone who has played Battlefield 3 knows it’s a graphical powerhouse, and the game’s eerily realistic facial animations are in many ways one of the title’s best graphical features.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations

Ubisoft Montreal’s reasonably historically accurate romp (a rarity in video games) through the Ottoman Empire is nominated for a number of awards this year, including best game design, best writing and that coveted game of the year title. In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, the player takes control of Ezio Auditore as he walks in the footsteps of the game’s main character Altair. The title features a unique multiplayer mode (a first for the storied franchise) that involves hunting down fellow assassins in crowded streets, and an intricate plot line.

Dragon Age II

Developed by Bioware’s Edmonton based studio, this fantasy role-playing title received critical acclaim when it was released last year. The game follows a story that is relatively standard fantasy fare. You play as Hawke, a refugee that has survived the decimation of his home and has become the champion of the game’s world, Kirkland. Like many Bioware titles, player choice plays a huge role in how the title’s plotline and gameplay develops. At this year’s Canadian Video Game Awards Dragon Age II has been nominated for the best console title award.

NHL 12

Arguably one of the best sports game of the last few years, EA Vancouver’s NHL series continues to push the envelope with innovative new features. This year’s iteration NHL 12, features a new full-contact physics system, and dynamic goalies that can be knocked out of position by other players on the ice. Fan favourite, “be a pro” mode, is a feature that lets you control a player all the way from the minor leagues to the NHL, also returns. This year NHL 2012 is nominated for best console game.

Bioware’s critically acclaimed intergalactic space epic, Mass Effect 2, took home the coveted game of the year award in 2011.This is only a small selection of the awesome Canadian developed titles nominated at this year’s Canadian Video Game Awards. Finalists in every category for the 2012 awards show will be announced on March 20, 2012. The Canadian Video Game Awards occur on April 21, 2012 at Vancouver’s Convention Centre at 8:15 p.m.